Rs 11 lakh cash, 20-gram gold chain, 500-gram silver: UP man’s lavish gifts to nephew spark debate

Uncle’s extravagant birthday gifts for nephew spark online debate. (Image: akhilesh_chauhan_2000/ Instagram)

A video of a first birthday celebration in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh has gone viral on social media, drawing attention for the scale of gifts presented during the ceremony. What was meant to mark a family milestone soon became a widely shared clip, prompting both humour and criticism online.

The video, posted on Instagram by the child’s maternal uncle, Akhilesh Chauhan, who captioned the video by writing, "Gifts given on my dear nephew Shivay’s first birthday." The clip shows gifts being formally announced as part of a traditional ritual. However, as the list continued, viewers noted that the items mentioned went far beyond what is typically associated with a first birthday.

Among the gifts announced for Shivaay were a plot of land on the Aligarh-Agra highway, Rs 11 lakh in cash, and a 20-gram gold chain. The list also included five silver utensils weighing 500 grams, silver idols of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha. In addition, the child received 15 pairs of clothes and several toys.

The ceremony did not limit gifts to the birthday boy alone. According to the announcements made in the video, Shivaay’s mother was also given several gold and silver items. These included a 35-gram gold rani haar (necklace), gold bangles, a gold ring, earrings, silver anklets and multiple outfits.

Gifts were also listed for other family members present at the event. Shivaay’s grandmother and aunt received gold rings, silver anklets and clothes. The video further showed that 101 sarees were gifted to female family members, while 101 pant-shirt sets were distributed among male relatives.

Soon after it was posted, the video began circulating widely across social media platforms. While some users viewed the clip as a display of family affection and generosity, many others responded with humour, sarcasm and criticism.

One user commented, "Ye video dekhne walon ke liye bhi kuch hai kya? (Is there something for those of us just watching this video?)." Another wrote, "Mere mama to ulta mujhse mangte hain (My uncle asks me for gifts instead)."

Several comments reflected humour mixed with aspiration. One user said, "Bas itna hi ameer hona hai (Just want to be this rich)." Another joked, "Ye reel meri behen ki feed mein nahi jaani chahiye (This reel should not reach my sister’s feed)."

Humour dominated much of the comment section, with one individual writing, "Shivay ke nanihal walo se request hai humko godh le le please (A humble request to Shivay’s maternal family - please adopt me)."

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A post shared by Thakur Akhilesh Chauhan (@akhilesh_chauhan_2000)

However, the video also triggered concern among a section of viewers who questioned the social message such public displays of wealth may send. One person remarked, "Wonder, where our society is going."

Another comment directly compared the practice to dowry, saying, "Shaadi ka dahej kam tha jo ab ye shuru ho gaya. Gareeb aadmi kya kare (Wasn’t wedding dowry enough, now this has started. What should poor people do?)."

Several users also suggested that such wealth could have been used to help those in need rather than being showcased on social media. Others pointed out that videos like these may create pressure on families who are unable to afford similar celebrations.